Ever wonder how to defend the doctrine of the Trinity? Or have questions about it? Hopefully the inclusions of good illustrations and references to Scripture in this paper will help. Recently I had to write a "Trinity Paper" for a class called Systematic Theology. You'll find it below.
~J.P.
Dear Joe Artwell III,
Hello! Hope you have been doing well. In this letter I’d like to clarify some of the questions you had about the trinity and explain it in greater depth. It’s my understanding that you believe in the existence of God, but you don’t necessarily believe in the trinity. The belief and case for the trinity comes from scripture and not my own opinion. The following arguments are all clearly taught from scripture and clearly form the groundwork for the doctrine of the trinity. I am of the understanding that you believe that scripture is the inspired (God Breathed) and inerrant (flawless) word of God and that it was recorded by man all while being superintended by the Holy Spirit. If this isn’t quite what you believe, please let me know and we can talk further.
If we look in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 6:4 we find that it says, our God, the LORD is one!” Later I will state that they are all “distinct”. This doesn’t mean they are separate - only distinct. A good illustration of this is the relationship between Space, Time, and Matter. Space is made up of length, width, and height – three in one. If a box has 1” of height and 1” of width but 0.000” of height – it would cease to be a square. Likewise, Time consists of past, present, and future – three in one. If you take one out of the equation time no longer is time. Matter consists of energy in motion producing phenomena – three in one. If one was left out of this equation matter would cease to exist. This is the way God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work. They are three in one; however, if you take one away It ceases to exist. So we can then conclude from that that there is one God even if there are distinct persons. The book of Isaiah, in chapter 9 and verse 46 we find that God is the only God and there is NO other; “I (God) am God and there is none like me”. Clearly scripture supports a belief that there is “one God”.
When we look up Galatians 1:1 it says, “through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead…”. Contextually, this reveals that the “Father is God”. In this passage Paul is addressing the Galatian believers at the church(es) in Galatia. Here he says, I wasn’t sent through men, but by Jesus Christ AND God the father who raised Him (Jesus) from the dead. Our conclusion then is that the Father is God.
In John 1:1 we find that, “Jesus is God”. It says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Some ponder over what “word” is, but in 1 John 1:1-3 it clearly defines word to be “eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us”. Then it says that this eternal life or Word of life is the one believer’s have fellowship with, “our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ”. The father wasn’t “manifested” in physical form to early believers in the N.T, only the Son Jesus Christ. So we conclude that Jesus is also God.
This next point can be debated by some that The Holy Spirit is God. To debate this they clearly have to either twist or overlook Acts 5:3-5 because this is an erroneous belief. In this passage Peter has found a man Guilty of lying and stealing, so he says, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit”. He continues this thought then says, “You have not lied to men but to God”. Matthew 28:19 also supports that the Holy Spirit is God.
Also know that they are distinct persons. Mark 1:9-11 explains… Jesus was coming to be baptized in the Jordan, while being baptized he saw the “heavens opened” and the “Spirit like a dove” descending upon Him, and “a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased”.” Here we find that at one distinct moment in time we can detect the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all distinctly doing something in this baptism. They all aren’t doing the same thing, but are doing distinct things. John 15:26 also supports that they are distinct, yet live in harmony (compare Genesis 1:27 and 1 Corinthians 12) as one. Thus we can conclude: “they are all distinct persons”.
You might ask, but do they have a way they relate to each other? The relationship is from the Father, to the Son (John 3:16; 17:5), and to the Holy Spirit (John 15:2 -6) - it proceeds. The Evangelical, and Biblical conclusion if these basically premises, is that “The Father the son and the Holy Spirit are one God”. Not only is the relationship in this way but it’s also harmonious. In Genesis 1:27 we find that we are made in the image of God. In 1 Corinthians 12 we find that we are created in that image and are to live in a harmonious relationship, which is a byproduct of, and a reference to our Maker – God. And may I say that if you claim to be a Christian and you don’t believe in this comprehensive doctrine of the trinity you will be led astray. For example: If someone denies the trinity then they usually deny that Jesus is God. So, if the Jesus you believe in is not God, then you don’t have a Jesus who can save you! I pray you aren’t, “believing in a false representation of a Savior” (Galatians 1:6-9). Joe, to take a look at these passages and “search the scriptures” for yourself. If you have any more questions send them to me later. Thanks!
Sincerely, Jeffrey Paulus, Jr.
